Occidental Puerto Banús, Spain – Hotel Review
By Richard Jones, July 2025
The sun was starting to rise over the majestic Sierra Blanca mountains and the northern coast of Africa was coming into view across the Alboran Sea.
As I sipped on my coffee and drank in this idyllic southern Spanish setting, Puerto Banús’ prestigious marina was, like me, beginning to stir after a late night.
Location is crucial when choosing somewhere to stay on holiday, and that is certainly the case on the Costa del Sol, where being close to the action makes sense.
The newly refurbished Occidental Puerto Banús is steps away from the resort town’s popular bars, restaurants and shops, but also just far enough to provide a peaceful haven to rest your weary head.
And I certainly needed it after meeting up with seven other ‘respectable gentlemen’ to celebrate our pal Jim’s 50th birthday.
After flying into Malaga with Jet2 and jumping in an Uber, I arrived in Occidental’s chic and airy lobby and checked into a luxurious Junior Suite.
“Cozy corners”
The highlight of the apartment was undoubtably the double balcony terrace with those spectacular views, while inside, there were sofas to lounge on in front of the huge flatscreen TV, and a sleek bathroom with a double sink, w/c, bidet and large walk-in shower with citrusy toiletries, fluffy robes and slippers.
Each night, I would arrive back at the air-conditioned room before sinking into the plush king-size bed shrouded in darkness courtesy of the blackout drapes.
During the day, there is plenty going on at Occidental Puerto Banús.
The hotel has two freshwater outdoor pools – the main adults’ area, ideal for soaking up the sun on a lounger with a drink from the Breeze Gastro Pool Bar, and the kids’ paddling pool.
There’s also an on-site gym and several cozy corners around the foyer where business guests work on laptops and tourists and locals meet up for a casual coffee from Cocoa Brunch and Cocktails.
The breakfast in the Buffet Restaurant is diverse and well-balanced, with fresh pastries, fruit, eggs, sausages, cheeses and local specialties complimented by strong coffee and revitalising juices.
“High-end destination”
For lunch and dinner, the Italian-themed Dolce Vita Restaurant is the place to be, and my friend Mark and I were taken on a journey to the sun-drenched terraces and narrow streets in the heart of Tuscany, courtesy of a menu designed by Bologna-born chef Niki Pavanelli.
After artisan bread, olives and beef carpaccio antipasti, we had suckling veal entrecôte and homemade spaghetti carbonara, followed by tiramisu, all washed down by a crisp bottle of Pino Grigio.
The area around Puerto Banús and neighbouring Marbella was established in the 1950s as a high-end destination for the wealthy on the Costa del Sol.
Seven decades on, its popularity increased again as it became the second home of reality stars, influencers and fashionistas.
My friends and I took a walk along Paseo de las Estrellas, the wide avenue reminiscent of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and adorned with starfish-shaped tiles.
It’s here that you’ll find the most exclusive designer brands, from Louis Vuitton and Versace to Rolex and Ralph Lauren.
Ocean Club Marbella
image: Pedro Jaen
“Turquoise lagoon”
However, if those labels are out of your budget, there are plenty of affordable options at the street market near the Nueva Andalucía Bullring.
As well as being steps away from the marina’s multi-million-euro yachts and supercars, the Occidental is also adjacent to the El Corte Inglés department store, close to Casino Marbella, and a couple of blocks away from Zurab Tsereteli’s iconic bronze and copper statue Escultura de la Victoria.
For daytime entertainment, the eight of us made a beeline for Ocean Club Marbella, dominated by a huge, 4,000-square-metre turquoise lagoon.
We lounged around on a huge bed, soaking up the rays, dangling our legs into the cooling water, drinking cold beers, cocktails and iced coffees, and even playing a few board games.
What began as a chilled day turned into a Sunday afternoon jamboree, as dancers, drummers, acrobats and live singers descended on the pool.
Just down the road, on the fringes of Playa Nueva Andalucía, is Kova Beach Club. We set ourselves up on a couple of beds there on another afternoon, making our way through beer buckets and taking occasional dips in the refreshing plunge pools.
Rich (right), with friend, enjoying a plunge pool at Kova Beach Club
“Haven for live sport”
When it launched in June 2024, the owners of The Clubhouse ambitiously dubbed it the ‘premier sports and entertainment venue on the Costa del Sol’.
And after spending an afternoon trying out their state-of-the-art Trackman-powered simulators along with a few Mahou beers and wood-fired pizzas, it’s hard to argue with the bold claims.
Although I was the only golfer in our group, playing three holes around St Andrews’ Old Course suddenly got very competitive, with each lad visibly shaking on the first tee, nervously hoping they would manage to make decent contact with the ball.
With 50 screens dotted around the bar, The Clubhouse is also a haven for live sport, while there are also Dartsee boards, F1 simulators and the Song Room for those partial to a bit of karaoke.
As the day turned into night, we found an abundance of restaurants and bars to dive into.
We dined at Red Pepper on the harbour front, before heading one block back to Avenida Julio Iglesias for drinks in Lineker’s, BJU and O’Grady’s, before a night cap at La Habana De Hemingway disco cocktail bar.
Inside TIBU
“Comes alive”
A further street back, one of the Costa del Sol’s renowned clubs comes alive around midnight.
We reserved a table in TIBU’s stylish VIP area, making our way through a couple of bottles of house vodka and mixers while partying the night away.
Like most of the nightlife here, TIBU doesn’t get busy until the early hours, so if you’re expecting to be tucked up in bed at a reasonable hour, you’re in the wrong place.
However, if, like me, you’re lucky enough to be staying at the perfectly located Occidental Puerto Banús, you’re in the ideal spot.
VIBE by Jet2holidays offers seven nights bed & breakfast at the four-star Occidental Puerto Banús, Costa Del Sol, Spain, from £699 per person, based on two people sharing and return flights departing from Manchester on October 20, 2025. Price is correct as of 21/07/2025 and includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. To book, visit jet2holidays.com, freephone 0800 408 5594, or visit your travel agent.
For more information on Occidental Puerto Banús, go to barcelo.com
Holiday Extras (holidayextras.com) has a huge range of car parking and hotel options at all major UK airports, including Manchester.
While working as a TV, sport and news journalist, Rich first dipped his toe in the travel-writing pool in early 2008 when he accepted a learn-to-ski assignment in the Austrian Alps. Since then, he has travelled the globe, writing features on everywhere from Lake Garda to Las Vegas, Mexico to the Maldives and Barbados to Butlin’s. Rich’s passion is to inform and inspire readers and provide them with tips and advice on how they can make the most of their precious holidays. Over the years, he has been fortunate to stay in some of the world’s best hotels and dine in top restaurants, making him well-qualified to review food and drink, in addition to travel destinations, experiences and accessories.
